FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks and Helper: Sunday 1/14/24

Since NBA DFS is easier to predict than baseball or football, it would likely get plenty of votes as the best sport to play on FanDuel. Basketball players usually stick to the same minutes and produce at roughly the same rate. Sounds easy, right? Trust me -- it's not!

As a result, NBA daily fantasy is highly reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to ensure that you're up to date with key injuries. numberFire's projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news. numberFire also has player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

In addition to daily projections, numberFire also offers a matchup heat map and lineup optimizer to help give you an edge.

On top of all that, here at FanDuel Research, we'll come at you each day with this NBA DFS primer, which breaks down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's dive into today's main slate on FanDuel.

Guards

Devin Booker ($9,700): At his second lowest salary this month, Booker is sixth overall with a 42.6 fantasy projection against a Portland Trail Blazers allowing 50.2 FanDuel points per game to his position. In 126 minutes this season with Phoenix's big three on the floor, Booker is averaging 1.23 FanDuel points per minute and a 28.2% usage rate.

Anthony Edwards ($9,000): If Edwards is available after he was listed as questionable, the Minnesota Timberwolves star is sixth among guards with a 39.9 fantasy projection at his lowest salary in January.

Damian Lillard ($8,600): After a 2.2% salary decrease, Lillard is fifth among guards in value with a 4.81 rating and a 41.4 fantasy projection versus a Sacramento Kings' defense giving up 50.0 FanDuel points per game to his position.

Paul George ($8,400): Since December 21s, "PG-13" has been on a roll, recording 25.8 real-life points and 39.7 FanDuel points per game while his salary has moved down by 2.3% during this time period.

De'Aaron Fox ($8,300): At his lowest salary this season, Fox is today's top value option among guards with a 5.42 rating and a 45.0 fantasy projection in an underrated spot against a Milwaukee Bucks ranked 24th in FanDuel points (51.3) allowed per game to point guards.

James Harden ($8,200): In his last seven appearances, "The Beard" is averaging 1.10 FanDuel points per minute and 35.4 FanDuel points per game while his salary has dropped by an eye-popping 10.8%. Harden is second in value among guards with a 5.15 rating and a 42.2 fantasy projection.

Tyler Herro ($8,000): If Herro is able to play though his recent shoulder injury after he was designated as questionable, the 23-year old is set for a lead offensive role, accounting for a team-high 28.9% usage rate with today's expected inactives and 1.04 FanDuel points per minute.

Bradley Beal ($7,400): Since his return on December 29th, Beal is producing 0.96 FanDuel points per minute and a 23.9% usage rate. Even at his third highest salary point in January, the veteran is sixth among guards in value with a 4.81 rating and a 35.6 fantasy projection.

Malik Monk ($6,500): Even in a bench role, Monk still ranks as an optimal mid-salary value option with a 4.84 rating and a 31.5 fantasy projection against a Milwaukee defense allowing shooting guards to score 24.1 real-life points per game.

Mike Conley ($5,800): If Anthony Edwards is ruled out, the veteran is averaging 0.88 FanDuel points per minute and a 16.1% usage rate in this split.

Grayson Allen ($5,100): In 88 minutes this season with Phoenix's current starting unit on the floor, Allen has accounted for 0.73 FanDuel points per minute.

Forwards

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($12,100): At his second lowest salary in January, Milwaukee's superstar is today's clear top overall option with a 59.1 fantasy projection against a Sacramento unit ranked 17th in points allowed in the paint and defensive rating.

Domantas Sabonis ($10,000): Despite scoring a disappointing 31.9 FanDuel points in his last appearance, Sacramento's versatile big man has averaged 51.1 FanDuel points per game since December 22nd. Sabonis is fifth in value among forwards with a 4.87 rating and a 48.7 fantasy projection versus a Bucks' defense allowing 53.0 FanDuel points per game to his position.

Kevin Durant ($9,800): In his last three games playing with Phoenix's starting unit, Durant is averaging 1.24 FanDuel points per minute and a 25.6% usage rate while his salary has decreased by 2.9%.

Kawhi Leonard ($8,900): "The Claw" is ninth among forwards in value with a 4.66 rating and a 41.5 fantasy projection despite a tough matchup versus a Minnesota defense ranked third in fantasy production (37.9 FanDuel points per game) to his position. Since January 1st, Leonard has produced 1.35 FanDuel points per minute and 45.7 FanDuel points per contest.

Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,400): KAT would see a boost in his production to 1.31 FanDuel points per minute and a 34.4% usage rate if Anthony Edwards is held out.

Khris Middleton ($7,100): While Middleton's status is worth monitoring on the second half of their back-to-back, the 32-year old is eighth among forwards in value with a 4.69 rating and a 33.3 fantasy projection at his second lowest salary this month.

Keegan Murray ($6,800): Sacramento's second-year forward has really played well this month, averaging 0.99 FanDuel points per minute and 34.6 FanDuel points per game.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. ($6,300) / Caleb Martin ($5,500): Miami's rookie is recording 0.82 FanDuel points per minute and a 19.7% usage rate with today's expected inactives while Martin has accounted for 0.89 FanDuel points per minute and a 20.2% usage rate.

Jaden McDaniels ($4,600): Despite producing a 16.6% usage rate in his last 11 games, McDaniels is second among forwards in value with a 5.03 rating and a 23.1 fantasy projection.

Centers

Bam Adebayo ($9,300): In a great spot versus a Charlotte unit allowing the second most FanDuel points (61.3) per game to the five position, Adebayo is fourth overall with a 43.6 fantasy projection at his highest salary in January.

Jusuf Nurkic ($6,600): After producing an efficient 1.22 FanDuel points per minute in his last nine games. Nurkic is second in value among centers with a 5.26 rating and a 34.7 fantasy projection in a revenge matchup against a Portland team ranked 27th in fantasy production (59.8 FanDuel points) allowed per game to his position.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.